A comprehensive analysis of the barriers to effective construction and demolition waste management: A bibliometric approach

Abstract

The past few decades have witnessed a significant increase in the generation of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, posing a considerable sustainability challenge for the construction industry and environmental sustainability efforts. Due to its detrimental environmental effects, reducing C&D waste has become a crucial priority. However, the construction industry encounters various obstacles to effectively managing C&D waste. This research is centered on a comprehensive examination of these challenges. A systematic literature review was conducted, and the RStudio Bibliometrix package was used to analyze the barriers. This study thoroughly assessed 72 articles concerning C&D waste management (CDWM) from 2003 to 2023, sourced from the Web of Science database. The results revealed five distinct clusters of CDWM barriers, namely “managerial barriers,” “culturally ingrained waste behaviors in the construction industry,” “financial barriers,” “challenges in waste quantification,” and “insufficient information modeling.” This study makes a significant contribution to the existing literature on C&D waste management by applying quantitative analytical analyses via RStudio software, such as trend topic analysis, h-index, cluster analysis, and thematic mapping, which provide a deeper insight into the domain of CDWM barriers. Unlike previous studies, this work offers a holistic exploration of CDWM barriers and the intellectual structure within the field. This study advances the understanding of CDWM barriers by offering innovative quantitative methodologies and comprehensive insights. It is a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners seeking to address CDWM challenges, ultimately promoting sustainable practices in the construction industry. © 2024 The Authors